Chapter Thirteen
E ven though Adriane had inadvertently asked for the kiss, it still proved to be unexpected.
And oh, so delightful . . .
She had never been kissed before and only knew a couple pressed their lips together. As Julian did so now, his touch brought sensations roaring within her. She was aware of his hands still gripping her shoulders. The spice of his cologne. The heat of his body so very close to hers. And his lips against hers, soft and yet somehow firm at the same time.
His hands slid down her back, bringing her closer to him, enveloping her in a wonderful warmth as her heart beat wildly. Her palms pressed against his chest, which seemed harder than stone, reflecting the laborer he had been until only recently. She grew dizzy as he lifted his mouth from hers, then kissing her again, this time harder.
Something awakened deep within her, a yearning she had not known existed. Something that she realized only this man could fill.
He broke the kiss again, despite her murmuring a protest. His lips brushed her brow tenderly, and suddenly she felt like a prized treasure he valued above everything else. He kissed her eyelids. Her cheeks. The tip of her nose. Each kiss was sweet and playful.
But she wanted more of what had come before. Gripping the lapels of his coat, she yanked him down to her again, their lips colliding, bruising. His kiss was more demanding than before, frustrating her because she did not know what he asked of her. Whatever it was, she was too inexperienced to give him. She sought to end the kiss and ask him what he needed from her, but as she did, his tongue stroked her bottom lip. Sizzling need rippled through her. Instinct took over, and she opened to him. That was all the invitation he needed, because Julian’s tongue suddenly swept inside her mouth in a new kind of kiss. One extremely intimate and daring. Lovingly, he stroked her tongue, exploring, searching.
For her part, Ariadne determined not to be a passive observer, but rather an active participant. Boldly, her tongue met his, and a war as old as time began between them, only she realized both of them would be victors.
Her hands slid up his chest, moving past his shoulders, one hand gripping his nape. She found her fingers playing with his silky hair and heard the growl come from him. For the first time in her life, she knew she exercised her feminine powers.
And liked it.
The kiss went on and on, many kisses which blurred together. Heat rose within her until Ariadne thought she might burst into flames. Her breasts grew heavy. The place between her legs began pulsating in need. A wicked thought occurred to her.
She wanted him to touch her. There.
How had she turned so wanton, so quickly? Is this what kissing did? And still, she kissed him back, the unexpected first kiss now becoming one which she knew she could not live without.
“Ariadne!”
Hearing her name startled her, and she jerked away from Julian, seeing Val headed toward them, a thunderous look darkening his face.
Reaching them, he demanded, “What the bloody hell are you two doing, kissing like that?”
She found herself tongue-tied as her brother glowered at them.
Julian spoke up. “It is my fault. I apologize to you and Lady Ariadne.”
Anger sprouted within her, and she turned to him. “You are apologizing?” she accused. “ I was the one who asked for the kiss. And I was enjoying it very much until my brother interrupted us.”
She felt Val clasp her elbow and turned to face him.
“You asked to be kissed?” he demanded.
Her face flamed. “I did not quite realize I was asking aloud,” she amended. “I was thinking it, and somehow, the words slipped from me.”
His eyes narrowed. “You might have asked for a kiss, but Lord Aldridge did not have to accommodate your request,” Val said coldly. “Go to your bedchamber, Ariadne. You are in no condition to be seen at tea. I will tell Mama you have a headache.”
The bold woman who had kissed Julian with abandon now vanished, being replaced by the timid, obedient girl she had always been.
“Yes, Val,” she said, glancing to Julian and quickly away again. Her kissing partner looked incredibly guilty. “I will see you another time, my lord,” she told him, not wanting to know what her brother was going to say to him.
Fleeing the ballroom, she returned to her bedchamber and fell upon the bed. Her fingertips went to her swollen lips, touching them in wonder. She lay there, reliving every moment she’d had with Julian. Every kiss. Every sigh.
She must have fallen asleep because the next thing Ariadne knew, Tally had entered the room.
“How are you feeling, my lady?” the maid asked. “I wish you would have rung for me. I could have massaged your temples for you.”
She pushed herself to a sitting position. “I had no need of you, Tally. I merely took a nap and feel much better now.”
“Do you feel well enough to dress for dinner?”
Ariadne regretted having been a meek lamb. “Yes. I shall wear the pale blue silk.”
Once dressed, she went to the drawing room and found her parents and Val already there, each of them sipping a drink.
Parsons approached her, bearing a silver tray. “Would you care for a sherry, my lady?”
“Yes, thank you,” she said, lifting the crystal glass from the tray and sipping it, feeling its warmth fill her.
But not the warmth she had experienced being in Julian’s arms, participating in those drugging kisses.
Mama asked, “Are you feeling better, Ariadne?”
“Yes, Mama. It was just a slight headache. I napped a bit and feel completely myself now.”
Her gaze shifted to her brother, and she looked defiantly at him.
They were called into dinner, and she forced herself to act as if nothing had happened. Ariadne knew, however, that her world had changed radically with that unexpected kiss.
After dinner, she decided to speak with Val privately and asked, “Would you care to play a game of chess with me?”
“All right,” he said neutrally, accompanying her to the winter parlor where the chessboard sat, ready for them to begin their game.
They took a seat opposite one another, and she said, “We need to speak about what you saw this afternoon.”
Val frowned deeply. “You were fortunate that I am the only one who saw the two of you and not a servant, who might spread gossip. What were you thinking, Sis? You know very well how much I like Julian, but finding him gobbling up my sister was too much.”
“I do not wish to come between the two of you,” she told him. “I hope you will still remain friends with him, Val, but I have felt something growing between us, almost since we met.”
“You realize if I had told Mama and Papa what I had seen, he would be forced to wed you, even before your come-out.”
“I understand. I am grateful you kept silent. Thank you.”
“What were you thinking?”
“You are just like our parents, Val. You are treating me as if I were a child—and not a woman. I wanted to kiss Julian. I have never kissed a man before. I needed to see what a kiss was like.”
“There are many kinds of kisses, Sis, and the one I saw you participating in was dangerous. What are your feelings toward him?”
“Confused,” she admitted. “I do like him, Val. That is what led to the kiss. I have sensed an electricity between us. It is as if I am drawn to him in some inexplicable way.”
His face softened. “So, you do have true feelings for him.”
“I suppose I do, but they are so new and fragile, I do not know quite what to make of them.” She hesitated. “I know you have coupled with women. Can you tell me what that experience is like? I asked Mama, but she brushed me off. She merely said I would need to do whatever my husband told me to do and will not prepare me in the least.”
Her gaze bored into him. “I need to know more than that. You are the only person I can turn to.”
“Coming together with someone is a most intimate experience,” he began. “It does not have to involve kissing, but it can. You will touch one another. Caress. Stroke. You may or may not remove your clothes. I suspect many wives of the ton keep their night rails on during the act, but it is the deepest level of intimacy which can occur between two people.”
Feeling awkward, she asked, “Where would my husband touch me? Be specific, Val. I do not want to go into a marriage blind.”
For the next few minutes, her brother explained to her the mechanics of lovemaking. The process surprised her. Some of it even shocked her.
When he finished, she said, “Thank you. I needed to know all that. I fear too many mothers of the ton do not inform their daughters about what to expect.” Then she asked, “Do you do this with regularity?”
He nodded. “Men have needs, Ariadne. Women do, as well. It is perfectly natural. Not every woman is comfortable with what occurs in the marital bed, however. It can cause some husbands to look outside their marriage for satisfaction. In town, there are places men can go in order to have their needs met. Some men even keep a mistress, setting her up in a household so she is available whenever he wants to see her.”
She gasped. “Have you done that?”
Val laughed. “No, I am not one to make such a commitment to any woman.” He paused. “I am going to tell you things now that you must be made aware of. To keep you from being hurt later on. Many husbands stray from their marital vows. It is commonplace within Polite Society.”
“You mean . . . after they wed?”
He nodded grimly. “Moreover, once a wife has provided an heir and spare, many of them do the same, as well.”
“That is awful, Val!”
Shrugging, he said, “It is the way of Polite Society. Now, if you find a man you truly like and he has a fondness for you, in return, that may not be the case. I do want you to be prepared all the same because there is a strong likelihood that your own husband will follow this practice.”
“I would not take kindly to my husband going elsewhere and doing such... things... with another woman. Why, I might claw his eyes out. And hers, too.”
He grinned. “I see a passion within you, Sis. I am certain you will keep your husband happy and at home. But will that husband be Lord Aldridge?”
“I cannot say at this time, Val. The way he made me feel when we kissed, though? It was heavenly. But would other men also make me feel the same?”
“You are already friends with him. I think friendship is an excellent foundation for a marriage. I would not commit to Julian yet, though. You are right in that you are inexperienced. You must make your come-out and see a bit of society.”
“Should I . . . kiss any other men?”
“It wouldn’t hurt to do so and compare how you feel about them, versus Julian. However, I must warn you to be most careful in doing so, Sis. I have already told you that if you are caught kissing anyone—actually, even being alone with a gentleman—you will be ruined unless he weds you, amidst much gossip.”
“You have given me much to think about, Val. I will make my come-out as planned, but I already think very favorably of Julian. Will you promise me you will be kind to him? I am almost afraid to ask what you said to him after I rushed from the ballroom.”
“I let him no in no uncertain terms that he is to keep his hands and lips off you.” He smiled. “I will tell him tomorrow that we are still friends, though.”
“Thank you,” she said fervently. “I would never wish to come between you and your new friendship.”
“I think you should not see him for a while, Sis. Put a little distance between the two of you. The Season starts in two weeks. You need to keep busy with other things.”
“I miss Lia and Tia,” she said forlornly. “Do you think you could convince Mama to allow them to come to town to be with me?”
He studied her and then nodded. “I think having our sisters here would be good for you and them. I will speak to Mama tomorrow regarding the matter.”
She reached for his hand and squeezed it. “Thank you, Val. You are the best brother ever.” Then Ariadne smiled broadly. “Are you ready to lose to me?”
“Never!” he said, laughing.
They played two games, with Val winning both. Her mind had not been on the game—but on Julian Barrington instead. Her brother was right, though. It would be wise to keep to herself and not see Julian until the Season began.